VIDEO. An association “re-savages” a former hunting estate that it bought in the Vercors to “let nature take its course”

Clément Roche, 30, has accumulated diplomas to become an environmental expert. Today he is doing the job of his dreams, having been employed for two years by the Association pour la protection de la vie sauvage. (Aspas). Its mission is to transform the former hunting estate of Valfanjouse (Drôme) which it acquired in the Vercors thanks to donations, into a “wild life reserve” which aims to make “to the wild nature of the territories where it can express itself fully and freely.”

“This tree fell last year and, elsewhere, it would most certainly have been chopped before evacuating it, he explains to the magazine ‘1:15 p.m. on Sunday’ (replay). This is not going to be the case here. We are going to let nature evolve: to be born, to grow, to make a living and to die. Dead wood represents half of biodiversity. So if we remove it from our forests, we lose half of our biodiversity. We see the animals which have eaten the bark to find certain minerals necessary for their health … We find some hairs: the wild boars come to rub themselves to regularly deworm themselves so that their skin is no longer attacked by fleas, ticks, etc. “

For a “contemplative and immersive stroll, in love or curious”

“The ‘rewilding’ is to let nature take its course, explains Clément Roche. We are going to erase a little the human footprint which is predominant everywhere and let this territory evolve without constraint and human actions. “ Here, animals are no longer fed by humans. They must relearn how to feed themselves with what they find. Clément does not collect the magnificent mushrooms because of the principle of free evolution which requires not to take anything: “It’s complicated to make people understand that one should not touch the mushrooms which are an integral part of biodiversity. We let them to push…”

So, are there too many men? “This is the question that comes up very often. Absolutely not! responds the member of this association who is not without meeting the hostility of hunters, breeders, farmers … Man is an integral part of biodiversity. Quite simply, he got into the habit, especially during the 20th century, of being ultra-dominant. This is currently leading to an unprecedented erosion of biodiversity. It is important that these zones are created with the idea of ​​sharing the territory a little better. “ Aspas limits its “wildlife reserves” at “the contemplative and immersive stroll, in love or curious”.